NYS regulations?

[stonyloam]

Garter snakes in NY are "unprotected" (same for milk snakes). That means that you may do anything that you like with them. Keep them, collect them sell them or even, heaven forbid kill them. The only stipulation is that whatever you do you must do it in a humane fashion or you could run afoul of animal cruelty laws.
check out New York State's Native Reptiles - WNYHS

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, I was trying to wade through the DEC website and was getting very confused.

[stonyloam]

Yeah, the NYSDEC website basically sucks!

[count dewclaw]

Garter snakes in NY are "unprotected" (same for milk snakes). That means that you may do anything that you like with them. Keep them, collect them sell them or even, heaven forbid kill them. The only stipulation is that whatever you do you must do it in a humane fashion or you could run afoul of animal cruelty laws.
check out New York State's Native Reptiles - WNYHS

This DEC biologist disagrees....I sent NYS DEC an email asking about keeping and breeding garters that I caught in my yard, this is what they wrote back...

"This email has been sent to me for response. Garter snakes are
protected in New York as native wildlife species, and it is illegal to collect
wild snakes and keep them as personal pets. A License to Collect or
Possess (LCP) is required for individuals who wish to obtain native garter
snakes (whether they are wild or captive bred), but this license is
only issued to wildlife researchers, exhibitors or educators. If you have
any further questions on this, feel free to call or email.

-Chris

Christopher Ray
Biologist I
NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation
Special Licenses Unit"


So, I guess I'll have to release the snakes I have. Now I will have to focus on non-native species of garter snakes.